“I am very proud of my son”

Parent - June 2019
I am a single mother to a wonderful 15-year-old year son. There is a huge hole in our household and our lives because we don't have any immediate family or a male influence in the home. My son has self-esteem issues and is constantly searching for a community to belong to. Two summers ago, our family was introduced to Crane Lake Discovery Camp.

Crane Lake Discovery Camp is more than just a camp for the boys; there are so many more aspects to participating.

I am not a trusting person, and in reviewing their website I agreed to start the process of exploring Crane Lake Discovery Camp as a summer camp for my son. The Camp Director, Ron, immediately became a valuable source of support to me. We spoke about how my son and I interact, my numerous concerns about sending my child away for a whole summer. I grilled him on health and safety issues, my expectations as my son’s sole parent and Ron also shared his expectations of me so together, as a team, we could transition my son to camp. This included support for me, who for the first time in 13 years was learning to let go. Some of these conversations were difficult but respectful (I didn't make it easy on Ron), and in the end, I gave consent.

During the summer I received numerous calls from Ron and the camp staff. My son caught a fish. He was eating well. He had a conflict with a peer but used tools he has been learning at camp to overcome it. He was learning to be accountable for his behaviors and actions. He built a mess hall. He canoed. My son was also encouraged to hand write me letters. I looked forward to hearing from him. And along with these calls I was asked how I was doing, what was I doing to grow stronger. What were my ideas on my son’s visit home for 4 days? How did I want it to go?

The 4-day visit home was filled with joy. I had truly missed him. We ate, talked, had an outing and once again I received a phone call filled with support from Ron. My son was thriving. The real indication of that was when he returned home at the end of summer camp. He had grown taller. He had developed some strength, was sleeping well, and was of clear mind. He had learnt respect for himself and others. He was goal focused and able to enter Grade 9 healthy and happy. Crane Lake Discovery Camp doesn't end there though. The support never left.

Each month during the year a reunion took place. My son looked forward to seeing his peers and the staff. Ron kept calling and checking in. My son knows he's loved and someone other than his mother is there for him. This contact became very important in February after I became ill and needed major surgery. The support for my son grew. With Ron's help and concern, my son coped very well during this tough time in our home. I couldn't have recovered as well without my son caring for me, and I am so proud of the character he displayed.

My son had the opportunity to attend for a second summer. The whole process began again of meetings, conversation, and support to transition him to being away from home all summer long. I was just as difficult as the year before and Ron took the time to address all my concerns and make goals for both myself and my son.

The second year was a very different experience than the year before. My son was more mature, now he was senior, experienced and was expected to be not only a role model but also work on his goals. I still received the updates and check-ins but the letters home were much less. My son was building confidence and independence and truly having a great experience. This was the summer I needed more help and the staff at Crane Lake Discovery Camp were awesome helping me cope with my separation anxieties. My son once again returned home taller, stronger, and mentally healthy, focused and had made a plan for his future. He wanted a job.

After being home for a few days he started applying for and got his first part-time job. All the skills he has learnt at Crane Lake Discovery Camp have made him very successful. He works with a team. He has great work ethic. He's responsible. I am very proud. The support from Ron continues. The phone calls, the get together and the messages of support and pride that are helping build my son up.

When I first researched Crane Lake Discovery Camp 2 years ago, I studied the camp concept. This is such a critical piece of the camp’s mission. To date, each and every word is true. The word I hang on to though is "support". Both of us have been blessed by having Ron in our lives and my son now feels that he's part of a community. I feel I have support from a family.